Stormers coach Alister Coetzee has selected what looks like his strongest available side for Saturday’s warm-up against the Bulls in Polokwane. Schalk Burger will start at blindside flank in a loose trio that has no room for Currie Cup captain Deon Fourie.

The loss of Cheslin Kolbe to injury has revealed just how thin the Stormers are at wing, with Damian de Allende and Kobus van Wyk – both regular centres – named to start on either side of Gio Aplon. Juan de Jongh is back in favour and partners captain Jean de Villiers in midfield, while Bok tourist Louis Schreuder, unsurprisingly, is the man chosen to play alongside Demetri Catrakilis at halfback.

Duane Vermeulen and Siya Kolisi complete an all-Bok back row with Burger, while the interesting front-row selection sees Scarra Ntubeni picked ahead of Tiaan Liebenberg. Young Ruan Botha, whose exploits for the Baby Boks back in 2012 marked him as a definite player for the future, starts in the number 5 shirt alongside Rynhardt Elstadt, an indication that the Stormers, like so many other South African teams, will need to back youth in the second row in 2014.

@robdylan (Comment 2) : Does it really matter the number of a guys back these days? I mean they change positions in the scrum and lineout depending if they attacking or defending and in what area of the field. So its more about the combination of the 3 rather than the number jersey they wear i feel.

Comment 5, posted at 30.01.14 11:53:52 by SheldonK

Kolisi plays like a opensider, just need to improve his breakdown skills. HM also said he prefer kolisi at openside. D Fourie was good at six last year too…